Monk Parakeet

We’re cold and hungry. Dig in!

Monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parakeets. Commonly kept as house pets. Distribution primarily Argentina. Likes low rainfall open forests and savannas. These birds are cold-tolerant and can survive temperatures below 0 degrees F. Escaped pets can survive quite readily in North America and now established colonies have emerged in many states over the last few decades. They prefer urban areas (less hawks) and survive by eating at backyard feeders as shown here, just outside of Chicago, in the winter. They are considered a “potential agricultural pest”. They build huge stick/grass/leaf nests in trees or on power poles, especially by transformers. They like to chew wires. Now an alien species. There is one house sparrow near the feeding station for a size comparison.